Page 44 of Summer

“I didn’t know you to be a rake,” I whisper, and Aaoric recoils, his face twisting.

“I am not a rake,” he protests. It’s not anger I see there, it’s hurt, and the rest of the pieces fall into place.

Aaoric unwilling to marry, his understanding at my reluctance, his want to help me. Something Gennelle said bites at my memory, about Aaoric being a wandering soul until he found something to tether him home.

“You love her,” I whisper. He winces and scrubs his face. “But your parents would never agree. Do they know? Tell me they don’t know.”

“No! No. We’re…discreet,” Aaoric says.

“But you know,” I accuse Gennelle.

“It’s not my secret to tell,” she says, her gaze apologetic. She tried to tell me, or at least hinted at it. Sessaly’s instant dislike of me makes so much more sense now. I am betrothed to the male she loves.

“And she doesn’t know our plans?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

Aaoric shakes his head, rubbing his forehead. “It’s been a point of contention. I’ve tried to assure her that I am just acting for our parents’ sake. I trust her, but I …if something goes awry, I don’t want her to know the details. I don’t want her to be a target.”

“A target? A target of what?” I scoff. Gennelle and Aaoric shoot a glance at each other, and I sigh, throwing my hands in the air.

“You two are ridiculous,” I say, turning to head back down the path to the estate. Gennelle grabs my arm to stop me, turning me to face her.

“Aaoric, go apologize to Sessaly – or something,” Gennelle says to her brother.

He sulks away, and Gennelle pulls me off the walking path, down a smaller walking trail hidden amongst the foliage of the estate. We head down a small hill until we reach a bench. It’s old, with deep cracks that threaten to split at our weight. The purple grass and flowers have grown around it, trying to drag it into the ground.

Gennelle pulls me down next to her. She takes a deep breath before she speaks.

“For centuries, the Vestinhoth family has lived on Hothin. We’ve been rich farmers of sorts, but my ancestors were a bit…industrious. They wanted to expand their empire. War was on everyone’s lips, and they didn’t want to be on the losing side. They…well, played both sides, so to speak.

“When the war came and went, and the emperor came out victorious, my family could claim they supported the emperor. They took great pains to erase any evidence of their contributions to the other side. It wasn’t hard to hide – most of those ships were destroyed.

“Still, my father is very…paranoid. If any proof surfaced of his involvement they’d hang him for treason. When we were children, it wasn’t so bad, but now that we’re older, Father is worse than ever. Whenever a stranger comes to call, he’s sure it’s someone with proof of his past. He spends his time at gambling halls and clubs to listen in on the talk.

“As such – if the plan goes awry, if anything happens and our deception is unearthed, Father will likely think it sabotage. He’ll think you’re… I don’t know, that you were dangled in front of him by an enemy. He sees them at every turn. He’s been known to…question…those he thinks are in on plots against him.”

She settles back, her fingers nervously plucking at the fabric of her dress.

“Gennelle – I was a thief, on a ship of worse. I am not afraid of an aged duke,” I tell her.

Her smile is sad as she lifts her hand to cup my cheek, and the words stick in my throat. Come with me. Come with me.

“Your courage is admirable; I am sure you could survive the duke. The rest of us are not so strong,” she says softly.

I take her hand in mine and press a kiss to her knuckles. “You are strong,” I tell her. “And smart. I trust that if things go wrong, you have a plan you’ve not bothered to tell us.”

“Like your translator knowing Tatinnish?” she accuses.

“I hacked it using that comm device you gave me within a few days,” I admit. She regards me, and for a moment I’m worried she’s mad. Then she laughs – a true laugh, her head thrown back, her red hair loose in the breeze.

“You are remarkable,” she says once her laughter subsides.

Ask her.

“Says the female who runs an entire estate,” I say instead, because I know she’ll say no. I don’t want the disappointment, my heart can’t take it. So, I lean forward and capture her lips in my own – a slow, soft kiss.

In the distance the bell for afternoon tea rings, and our peace is broken.

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